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  My legs pull Tench deep inside me, constricting his movement. I feel him start to expand inside me.

  “Fuck Miranda. Come with me. I know you want to.” He beckons me with his sexy low voice, sending me over the edge.

  I feel myself climax and release around him, squeezing and tensing from the inside.

  “Argh! Fuck!” He howls as he feels my orgasm and reciprocates his feelings of senselessness, plunging inside me with deep, harsh strokes.

  I lay there for a few moments, wondering what the hell just happened. I’ve never had that with Tench before. He’s usually all rough, wild and hard to control. Lying next to me, I watch Tench trying to catch his rapid breath, glistening sweat beading on his smooth chest as it rises and falls every time he inhales. He catches my eye and smiles his brilliant white smile. Leaning up onto his elbow, he rests his arm on the side of his head. The back of his hand rubs the side of my flushed cheek.

  “That was amazing Miranda. Thank you. I needed it.” He says softly to me, his eyes gorgeous and silken.

  “Just doing my job Mr Tench.” I manage to reply between breaths, as I fall back into character.

  Tench laughs an obnoxious laugh and rolls himself off the bed.

  “Come on, time for a shower. I have a nice dinner organised for us tonight.” He slaps my thigh with the back of his hand as he walks past into the en-suite bathroom.

  His body is a wonderful sight to behold as I drag myself from the comfort of the bed and follow his bouncing buns into the bathroom. Dinner? What a surprise you are tonight Joe Tench. Twisting my hair up into a bun on top of my head, I step into the double-sided shower behind him. I take the showerhead opposite him so as to allow myself the full view of this suddenly fascinating man in front of me. The water feels amazing on my over-sensitive skin and my nipples react to the sensation. Tench is rigorously lathering his entire body with a sweet smelling shower-gel that smells of lavender, lemon-myrtle and a hint of patchouli. He does so in a fashion that almost looks like he’s attempting to exercise our passionate session out of his body. When he finally notices me watching him from the other side of the shower, he grabs the container of gel and throws it to me, winking at me in the process. Yep… I knew Tench was still in there somewhere.

  “God you are gorgeous.” He says with a devilish grin, “You know I just can’t seem to get enough of you.”

  I raise my eyebrow and shrug my shoulders in a you-are-only-human manner. He steps over to my side of the shower, and pushes me up against the cold sandstone wall behind me. Grabbing my hands, he holds them above my head.

  “I could just have you all night.” He says as he playfully bites into my neck.

  “Well you can. That’s what you pay me for.” I reply as I push my neck down and chuckle from the tickle in his bites.

  He makes a playful growling sound and releases me from the hold and steps back to his side of the shower once again. Under the stream of water, he runs his hands through his hair.

  “Why do you always do that Miranda?” He asks.

  I look at him with perplexity, “Do what?”

  “Always reminding me that you’re an escort? Or are you reminding yourself?”

  “That’s what I am aren’t I? No use in distorting the truth. We both know what I’m here for.”

  I go over the same old rehearsed speech that I always give clients as an attempt to assert my position on the matter. Even though, deep down, I sometimes wish I was somebody’s girlfriend and not just a whore. I always hate broaching this subject with anyone. It just digs up feelings of false hope for me. Who would have someone like me as a girlfriend? Tench shakes his head, his eyes now closed under the stream of water. Turning the tap off on his side of the shower, he thankfully changes the subject.

  “I’ve got something good planned for us tonight, but take your time. There’s something in the closet in the spare room for you to put on. I’ll meet you outside on the terrace by the pool.”

  “Sounds interesting.” I reply, trying to look insouciant as he steps out of the shower and disappears back into his bedroom.

  My mind searches desperately to try and figure out the sudden change in Tench’s attitude towards me. What does he have for me to wear I wonder?

  CHAPTER 4

  Curious about what he has for me to wear, I finally hear Tench leave the bedroom, so I quickly turn the shower off. I throw on one of the fluffy white bathrobes hanging beside the shower. It has an Yves Saint Laurent symbol embroidered on it. It feels soft on my freshly cleaned skin. I make my way out of the bathroom. The nearest spare bedroom is to the left, at the end of the hallway, and towards the back of the mansion. I pass another room on the way and notice it has a wall of mirrors. I guess it’s a gym, but my curiosity towards the awaiting garment is burning inside me, so I don’t stop to take a proper look. I get to the bedroom at the end of the hallway, and see that the light is on in the walk-in closet. Obviously I’m in the right place. I walk into the robe to see it is sparse without any clothes inside it. Hmmm… There’s no dress hanging up as I envisaged. I wander back out of the closet and search around the bedroom itself, to no avail. Maybe this isn’t the right room after all. I head back up the hallway, and try to find some other bedrooms nearby. All five bedrooms on this level have empty closets also. There is only one room that has its closet light on, and that’s the original room I was in to start with. I head back to that room, wondering whether I have missed something.

  This room is the biggest out of the rooms in this level, excluding Tench’s master suite and this closet is definitely the largest. I finally notice the black box on top of the chest of draws, in the middle of the room. I guess this is what he was referring to so I open the box. I gasp involuntarily, holding my hands to my mouth. I eye the sheer mass of the heart shaped black diamond necklace, lying serenely inside its silk enclosure. It is spectacular. A twisting vine of sparkling white diamonds encase the centre stone, then continue their viny-climb to create a stunning diamond encrusted chain. Is this what he meant by ‘something to wear’? Does he want me to wear this on its own, or does he want me to get dressed for dinner? I can’t tell. Damn it! I wish he stipulated more than his cryptic suggestion. Knowing the old Tench, he would want me in nothing but the necklace, but who can tell what this new Tench is thinking. The old Tench wouldn’t even give me something like this! I start to contemplate whether he intends this to be a gift for me, or whether it’s just to wear for the night? Huh… A black heart shaped diamond. Very aptly chosen, I couldn’t think of a worthier symbol to match the darkness that I feel inside my empty heart. Or is it to represent his own dark heart? A myriad of scenarios continue to play out in my overactive mind, until I finally deliberate… I need to just get ready. I swiftly pick up the necklace, suddenly struck by the immense weight of the stone. Whoa… This would have to be at least fifty carats! I wouldn’t know. I’ve never had a diamond of this magnitude in my hands before. What does he mean by this gesture? Knowing his criminal vocation, I wonder how this came to be in his possession.

  I desperately search through my suitcase for possible outfits to wear with such a refined piece of jewellery. I find that none of my dresses with me would do this wondrous display of craftsmanship any justice. Therefore, I go with what I know best and decide to wear very little at all with it. To showcase it in all its glory. This is seductress me after all! I opt for a pair of black stockings that have a seam running up the back and a thick band of lace that sits around the top of my thighs, and my favourite black Louboutin pumps. I figure that since I am meeting him outside, I best put some underwear on… at the very least. I choose my favourite pair of black silk La Perla knickers, with exquisite rows of French lace frills on the rear, forming a very flattering 1950’s style. They suit the style of the precious jewels lying in front of me. I pick up the necklace and secure the clasp around my neck. The stone falls weightily around the base of my neck, sitting like an arrow pointing towards my cleavage. The diamond’s weight is something co
mpletely foreign to me. It feels cold and harsh on my chest, but the image if it hanging on me in the mirror is breathtaking. Wow! This is some rock! Maybe it’s more than fifty carats? I wish I knew more about diamonds, particularly black diamonds. I decide that I like the look of the clambering diamonds around my neck, so I leave my hair up, and roll it around into an elegant French roll. Securely pinning my hair into place, a final touch up of my makeup sees me ready for my entrance to this strange evening that Tench has in store for me.

  As I come down the curved staircase, I immediately see that there is a long line of tea light candles twinkling in the night. The candles continue all the way out through the French doors ahead of me, flickering into the distance of the spanning terrace outside. The music is much louder in the lower section of the house as I make my way down toward the terrace. I immediately feel like I’ve been transported onto the set of Baz Luhrmann's Romeo & Juliet. Desiree’s strong vocal melodies fill the air with Kissing You. I see there is barely a space left on the terrace outside that isn’t littered with glimmering candles, all lining a pathway to where a single small table setting of white linen is set for two beside the pool. The pool itself also has scattered candles floating upon its surface. The trees surrounding the pathway have an abundance of fairy lights sparkling on their outstretched branches. I feel like I’m dreaming. I wonder why he has done this for me? This breathtaking display makes my heart start to pound violently inside my chest, causing the stone resting upon it to sway in rhythm. Then I see him. Standing with his back to me on the far ledge beside the pool, Tench’s silhouette looks iridescent against the moonlight. The pool looks as if it drops off suddenly, with the harbour beyond. I’m shocked to see that he is wearing the finest tuxedo, and looks as if he’s just bounced out of the pages of a glossy magazine. His immaculate hair shines in the soft light. Suddenly, I feel my cheeks prick with a wash of embarrassment. I realise that I may be slightly under dressed. Shit! Damn! Shit! My bottom lip starts to twist under my teeth. I quickly become insecure about my lack of attire, contemplating running back up the stairs to throw on whatever I can find. Unfortunately it’s too late. Tench turns around and eyes me in the doorway. I remain frozen in my imaginary concrete boots. His initial look is surprised shock, obviously due to my absence of clothing, but grins wildly with his bedazzling white smile. It takes my breath away. He strolls towards me, brandy balloon cupped in his hand. He places the glass on the table and glides like a mirage toward me. I’m still suspended in shock. The dramatic build up in the music, combined with the entire setting, forces my feet to remain solid to the ground. This is all too surreal. I feel my knees start to quiver. I don’t know if I can hold myself for much longer. The weight of the necklace hanging around my neck feels more like a boulder now. Tench reaches out to my face and embraces me in an intense, persistent kiss. The music reaches its crescendo. The lyrics emulate the scene playing out before me. We rock slightly in our embrace, in time to the music. He pulls back and stares into my eyes, his hands still cupping my face.

  “Well not exactly what I had in mind but this definitely works for me.” He says with a beaming grin. A grin that I’ve never seen on him before, “It looks absolutely breathtaking on you Miranda. As I knew it would and I never would have thought of the spin you have put on it tonight. It highlights the exact reason why this diamond works in perfect harmony with your flawless, milky skin.” He expresses as he palms the stone around my neck.

  I look up at him with wide eyes. I can’t feel to colour in my face anymore, “Are you ok?” He asks as he grips the bottom of my chin with his bent index finger.

  “Yeah sure.” I try and sound nonchalant, “I just don’t know why you are doing this for me Joe.”

  “I have my reasons. Come.” He clutches my hand and leads me through the candle-lined isle to the table.

  The moon shines brightly above us, casting beautiful shadows across Tench’s structured face. A man wearing a chef’s hat and checked pants appears out of the pool house on the side of the terrace, wheeling a sliver trolley full of plates of food. I start to feel my cheeks burn and I desperately want to cover my exposed breasts, but readjust my thoughts and I sit up straight and eye Tench who’s looking at me. An unfamiliar boyish smirk sets across his face. He holds out his champagne glass to me, which has recently been filled with the finest Pol Roger.

  “To there never being a dull moment with you Miranda.”

  “Nor with you Joe.” I meet his glass with my own and smile with my head slightly tilted, conjuring up as much seduction as possible in my current state of self-consciousness.

  I faintly hear the chef gasp as he notices the practically naked girl at the table before him, but immediately drops his eyes when he sees Tench glaring at him. The poor shocked chef doesn’t dare look up beyond the trolley as he places the plates of half shell scallops on the table.

  “Local ‘alf shell scallops wit’ coriander an’ ‘azelnut butter monsieur an’ mademoiselle. Bon appetite.” The chef says with a strong French accent. He also places down a salad of Pear, Rocket, Parmesan, and Candied Walnuts, drizzled with a vincotto. Beside it he puts down a bowl of Zucchini Salad with raisins, pine nuts, mint and parsley. The chef then scurries back into the pool house, not daring to lift his eyes at either of us.

  “I figured you’ve had your fair share of oysters, so I thought we’d go with scallops tonight.” Tench says as he forks the spongy white scallop from its shell. The mixture of the walnut butter and the smoothness of the scallop are amazing as I take my first bite.

  “So do you like your new necklace?” Tench enquires as he takes another sip from his champagne flute.

  “It’s stunning, but you know I can’t seriously accept this as a gift Joe.” I don’t dare look him in his eye, for fear of my flushing cheeks giving away my hidden vulnerability.

  “Why not? I won it in a game of poker last week in Vegas and thought of you straight away.” He says imperturbably.

  I laugh, “A black heart reminded you of me? How very thoughtful of you Joe.” I mutter in between my mouthfuls.

  “I was thinking more about the rarity of it actually Miranda.” He snaps back.

  “Oh.” I feel myself start to flush but control my prickling cheeks by sipping on my champagne, allowing the cool contents inside my mouth to absorb the heat of my cheeks.

  “There has been a lot happen in my life recently Miranda, which has given me a great deal of opportunity to reflect upon the things around me.” Tench’s eyes meet mine and he pauses for a moment, “You have been very good to me, it’s rare for someone like me to meet a girl like you. So it’s time that I showed you my appreciation for you… well… just being you.” He says as he puts down his knife and fork, signifying the completion of his meal.

  I start to grimace. I can almost predict where this is leading and do my usual attempt to avoid the direction of conversation.

  “All in a days work Joe…” I reply and see his eyes dim slightly, “But this is a breath of fresh air and I am thoroughly enjoying your company tonight.” I try and recover.

  I figure he has gone to an awful lot of trouble for me tonight. I just hate to think what his true intensions are, behind what seems to be a hidden agenda. I certainly cannot accept this diamond, no matter what he says. It’s just too much!

  Our second course shortly arrives and astounds me just as much as the first. A bowl of spanner crab tagliatelle with chilli, garlic, lemon and parsley, the smell is engrossing. The chef finally brings out another plate comprising of a chicken dish.